About Nela

DIRECTOR, SPONSORSHIP

Nela Drury, MCM, is a seasoned public relations consultant, senior communications professional, and business leader with over a decade of experience driving results for clients across industries, sectors, and borders. She has led large-scale communications campaigns, navigated complex issues management, and built trusted relationships with global brands, nonprofits, and government.

As Partner at Coldwater Communications, Nela oversees operations and leads a high-performing team spanning Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. She specializes in strategic communications, media relations, crisis and issues management, and thought leadership positioning—helping organizations earn credibility and move the needle on business and reputational outcomes. Under her leadership, Coldwater has been recognized as Small Agency Team of the Year (2023, 2024, 2025) by the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS), a rare three-year consecutive honour.

Her work has been featured in top-tier national and international outlets, with campaigns that have elevated clients such as Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Whistler Film Festival, and the Immigrant Employment Council of BC. She has also advised on complex government files, including high-profile mandates with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beyond client work, Nela is also an award-winning content creator—her and business partner Theodora Jean’s Deep Dive podcast was named Best Business Podcast of 2024 at the Quill Podcast Awards.

She holds a Master’s in Communication Management (MCM) from McMaster and Syracuse Universities, a Graduate Certificate in Business Innovation from the University of Toronto, and a B.A. in Media Production from Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Radio and Television Arts. Drawing on this multidisciplinary foundation, she integrates communications strategy with business innovation principles to deliver measurable impact.

Fluent in both English, French, and Serbian/Croatian, Nela brings a multilingual lens to her work and is passionate about advancing the public relations profession in Canada and beyond.